Improvement in ferfvjenting-vats for brewers



G. SLEEMAN & T. STEELE.

-Fe'rmenting Vats for Brewers.

'- Patented March 0,1874.

figure 2. M

PATENT O FIC GEORGE SLEEMAN AND THOMAS srEELE, OF GUELPH, CANADA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FERMENTING-VATS FOR BREWERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 148,331, dated March 10, 1874; application filed September 1 f, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE SLEEMAN and THOMAS STEELE, both of the town of Guelph, county of Wellington, province of Ontario, Canada, have invented an Improved FermentingTub, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to the combination of a fermenting-tub within an outer tub, in such a manner that there will be an open space between them on all surfaces, excepting where the bearers for the inside tub occur, the object being to surround the inner or fermenting tub, in which is contained the fermenting liquor, with water flowing or stationary, as required, ice, or other suitable substance for keeping the fermenting liquor at a proper temperature, the flow of the water in the outer tub being regulated by cocks.

This apparatus is to be distinguished from close tubs, in which the fermentation is conducted on the air-tight principle; for, in our invention, the atmosphere is given the freest access to the fermenting-vessel, enabling the wort to take up oxygen, while in closed tubs the fermentation is necessarily conducted in cacuo, or in such manner that the ingress and egress of the air require constant control and management.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a fermenting-tub, embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the same. Fig, 3 is a half-plan of the same. i

A is the fermenting-tub, constructed in the usual way, but supported on bearers B, which bearers rest upon the bottom of the external tub O. The bearers B may be of wood, iron, or other suitable material, sufficiently high to allow of about as much space between the bottoms of the two tubs as there is between the staves. The space F between the tubs may be fixed at any width that is found best in practice. I) is the fermenting liquor contained in the tub A, and which is put into the tub in the usual way. E is the substance, which, in the present case, we will suppose to be water, but which may be anything that is more suitable for that particular liquor in process of fermentation, contained in the space F between the two tubs. The water E,which may be forced from a pump or flow from a reservoir above, is admitted by the supplycock Gr, fills the space under and around the fermenting-tub A, and between the tubs A and O, escaping by the overflow-pipe H, the flow of the water being regulated by the sup plyfcock G at the will of the person in' charge, and to suit the temperature of the fermenting liquor contained in the tub A. After the fer menting liquor D has been in the tub A a sufficiently long time it is allowed to run off by the outlet-cock I.

The advantages of our invention are: That an even temperature can be maintained during the fermentation of liquors, both in summer and winter; that when a liquor is fermenting in a tub of our invention, no watching is required, either by day or night, as the water can be supplied regularly and constantly; that the process of fermentation is cleaner and safer; that no manual labor is required.

We are aware that fermenting-tubs have been made, in which an inclosed space is left around them, between their exterior surfaces and the interiors of the surrounding tubs; but our invention is designed to prevent the impeding action of atmospheric air, which must necessarily be contained in a closed space, and which action, should the overflowpipe be closed, will wholly or partially pre vent the rising of the liquid within the space around the fermenting-tub. In the invention herein described, no such obstruction can ocour; for, should the overflow-pipe be closed, the water will rise nevertheless, and eventually flow over the upper edge of the tub, thus directing attention to the necessity of opening the overflow. We do not claim a waterchamber, such as is shown in the patent to George Wallace, dated March 5, 1S67,'by which the temperature of the liquor in vats or tanks can be regulated during fermentation; but

We claim as our invention- A combination of an inner fermentingtub, with an exterior tub,in the manner described, whereby a space is left at the bottom and around the entire lateral surface of the fer menting-tub, thus allowing 'a'liquid at all times to rise unimpeded by the pressure of at mospheric air around the sides of the ferment ing-tub, as set fortl GEO. SLEEMAN.

1113 THOMAS STEELE. mark.

YVitnesses I. M. RoEERrs, D. OEEIsTIE. 

